| 01 September 2010
In some shocking news out of Eugene on Tuesday, Oregon Duck power forward Michael Dunigan is reportedly leaving Oregon to sign a three-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem, ending his college career. Head coach Dana Altman said he was aware of the report but wouldn’t comment on the situation. Dunigan is the fifth player to leave the Ducks since Altman took over.
The NCAA has ruled that former Oregon Duck quarterback Jeremiah Masoli cannot play for Ole Miss until the 2011 season because, among other reasons, he would have been ineligible at his previous institution. He said he was “very shocked and disappointed” by the decision, which the school will appeal. Where does he go from here?
The same question could be asked about Rudy Fernandez, who opened up, albeit minimally, about his situation with the Portland Trail Blazers. In response to General Manager Rich Cho’s statement that the team will not release his rights, he told El Periodico, as translated by Hoopshype, “Well, if he has said that, then it's true. I'm still a Blazer. Right now I'm not worried about what they say there [in Portland].”
Fernandez also said he relishes in his time spent with his countrymen and is enjoying his role on Spain’s team. He would enjoy it even more if he knew he could play in Europe for the near and distant future.”
While he wishes to be set free, former Oregon Duck guard Malik Hairston was disappointedly cut loose by Montepaschi Siena, an Italian club that signed him just a month ago, because of a disc problem in his back. Hairston previously asked the San Antonio Spurs to release him, a decision that has since backfired.
Yet, he will continue his rehabilitation in Siena and, if all goes well, the team could consider re-signing him to a contract with new conditions.
Now to an alumnus of Hairston’s rival. The New Orleans Saints released former Oregon State Beaver quarterback Sean Canfield. Canfield was a seventh-round pick and, according to The Times Picayune, was “the clear odd man out in a backup battle between Chase Daniel and Patrick Ramsey.” Could the United Football League be in his future?
Darwin Barney, former Oregon State Beaver and current middle infielder for the Chicago Cubs, is struggling in his cup of coffee with the big club but managed to record his first major-league rbi, doing so with a pinch-hit double off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Burress, a fellow Oregon native who graduated from Barlow High in Gresham, in a 14-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
As Barney is making the transition from shortstop to second base, Portland State Vikings receiver Julius Thomas is trying out football in his final year of eligibility after excelling for the school’s basketball team. Twenty-two years old and 6’5” inches tall, the gifted athlete hopes to be as good in the slot as he was in the post.
PSU quarterback Connor Kavanaugh said he could put his basketball skills to use on the gridiron, while head coach Nigel Burton, who can’t wait to incorporate him into their offense, believes he has “big-play potential.”
photo: seattletimes.com
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